PISCATAWAY, NJ – Rutgers University senior Nate Jones (Scotch Plains, NJ) has earned Preseason All-America honors (third team) from Athlon Sports. Jones was also rated the eighth-best kick returner in the nation by The Sporting News. Jones received the honors in the football yearbooks of the respective publications.

Jones enjoyed an outstanding season on the gridiron for the Scarlet Knights last season, earning All-BIG EAST honors while being named the Conference’s “Co-Special Teams Player of the Year.” Jones was also one of four Scarlet Knights to start all 12 games on defense, and was third on the squad with 81 tackles. Jones also led the BIG EAST, and was sixth in the country, in kickoff returns, averaging 28.3 yards per return. He earned national acclaim by returning a pair of kickoffs 100-yards for touchdowns (vs. Tennessee and vs. Syracuse).

Jones has been equally impressive in the classroom in his career at Rutgers. Last fall, he was named to the Verizon Academic All-America (University Division I) Second Team. A finance major, Jones was also named to the BIG EAST’s All-Academic Football Team for the second consecutive year and a Verizon District II All-Academic selection.

The Scarlet Knights’ 2003 season opens on August 30, when they host Buffalo at Rutgers Stadium.

2003 ATHLON SPORTS' PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN TEAMS

FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICA
OFFENSE
QB - Cody Pickett, Washington
RB - Steven Jackson, Oregon State
RB - Darren Sproles, Kansas State
WR - Reggie Williams, Washington
WR - Rashaun Woods, Oklahoma State
TE - Kellen Winslow, Jr., Miami
OL - Sawn Andrews, Arkansas
OL - Jammal Brown, Oklahoma
OL - Nick Leckey, Kansas State
OL - Antonio Hall, Kentucky
OL - Jacob Rogers, USC

DEFENSE
DL - Claude Harriott, Pittsburgh
DL - Tommie Harris, Oklahoma
DL - Darrion Scott, Ohio State
DL - David Pollack, Georgia
LB - Teddy Lehman, Oklahoma
LB - Courtney Watson, Notre Dame
LB - Rod Davis, Southern Miss
DB - Chris Gamble, Ohio State
DB - Brandon Everage, Oklahoma
DB - Marlin Jackson, Michigan

SPECIALISTS
K - Nate Kaeding, Iowa
KR - Broderick Clark, Louisville
P - Andy Lee, Pittsburgh
PR - Derek Abney, Kentucky

SECOND-TEAM ALL-AMERICA
OFFENSE
QB - Brad Smith, Missouri
RB - Anthony Davis, Wisconsin
RB - Maurice Clarett, Ohio State
WR - Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh
WR - Mike Williams, USC
TE - Ben Utecht, Minnesota
OL - Robert Gallery, Iowa
OL - David Baas, Michigan
OL - Stephen Peterman, LSU
OL - Rob Petitti, Pittsburgh
OL - Calvin Armstrong, Wash. State

DEFENSE
DL - Will Smith, Ohio State
DL - Jason Babin, Western Michigan
DL - Nathaniel Adibi, Virginia Tech
DL - Andrew Shull, Kansas State
LB - Derek Johnson, Texas
LB - Karlos Dansby, Auburn
LB - Kirk Morrison, San Diego State
DB - Vontez Duff, Notre Dame
DB - Jamaal Brimmer, UNLV
DB - Jim Lionhard, Wisconsin
DB - DeAngelo Hall, Virginia Tech

SPECIALISTS
K - Mike Nugent, Ohio State
KR - Jason Wright, Northwestern
P - Matt Payne, BYU
PR - Dan Sheldon, Northern Illinois

THIRD TEAM ALL-AMERICA
OFFENSE
QB - Matt Schaub, Virginia
RB - Michael Turner, Northern Illinois
RB - Kevin Jones, Virginia Tech
WR - Bernard Berrian, Fresno State
WR - James Newson, Oregon State
TE - Heath Miller, Virginia
OL - Wesley Britt, Alabama
OL - Rob Droege, Missouri
OL - Nick Kaczur, Toledo
OL - Chris Colmer, NC State
OL - Tony Pape, Michigan

DEFENSE
DL - Kenechi Udeze, USC
DL - Brandon Kennedy, North Texas
DL - Cedric Hilliard, Notre Dame
DL - Howard Hodges, Iowa
LB - Matt Grootegoed, USC
LB - Grant Wiley, West Virginia
LB - Jonathan Vilma, Miami
DB - Etric Pruitt, Southern Miss
DB - Derrick Strait, Oklahoma
DB - Bob Sanders, Iowa
DB - Corey Webster, LSU

SPECIALISTS
K - Billy Bennett, Georgia
KR - Nate Jones, Rutgers
P - Cody Scates, Texas A&M
PR - Wes Welker, Texas Tech